It's All In Your Head

Chapter 2

Now a slightly older Blinky was sparring with an unfamiliar troll in hero's forge. Vendel was watching closely, eyes critical. "Wider stance Blinkous! Short legs are no excuse. Orkun, shift your hands a bit lower on your sword, it allows for a more powerful swing." Another troll in armor was instructing other whelps, including Dictatious, who was furiously attacking a smaller troll with a long pike type weapon.

Jim looked around but could see no legendary swords, just many normal ones. "What is this?" Blinky watched his younger self spar, feeling moderately embarrassed that he had made so many mistakes, although he had been very young. "Vendel used to have a training program for young trolls that had the potential to be a future trollhunter." He pointed out a baby Draal happily slashing at his opponent. "My brother and I lived with Vendel while our mother was at war, that's why I'm in this class despite having no chance."

Orkun suddenly kicked little Blinky in the chest, sending the little troll flying. Claire, Toby, and Jim cringed in unison as the other troll leaned over the younger Blinky, cruelly stating, "You're tiny, why do you even try? If you know what's good for you you'll stay down." As the bigger whelp pulled away, the little blue troll's scrunched up, and he slowly pulled himself to his feet. "Seriously? Hey guys, the shrimp wants a beating!" Orkun, along with several other troll whelps, surrounded Blinky, cutting him off from Vendel's watchful eye.

Blinky turned to Merlin, remembering what happened next and having no wish to relive it. "I want to leave this memory. Obviously the sword isn't here." Merlin rolled his eyes and seemed to drag out the motions to transfer them, taking long enough that screams could be heard behind the group. "Blinkous, the reason you don't remember the sword is because it's buried in a traumatic memory- likely worse than being bullied as a child." Jim hugged the historian and whispered, "For what it's worth, I think you would be a great trollhunter." Blinky smiled, suddenly feeling a little better.